Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Berkeley, 1999-2001
I am currently in the Laboratory of Dr. Thomas D. Bruns, studying the autecology of Boletus edulis, an economically important wild edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom. The main aspects of my research are the population genetics, community ecology, and the physiological ecology of this species. I am also collaborating with two graduate students on their thesis research. Lisa Grubisha and I are working on the population genetics of two hypogeous fungi of the Sierra Neveda, Gauteria monticola and Gastrosuillus suilloides. And I helped with the establishment of Antonio Izzos long-term ectomycorrhizal community study at the Teakettle Experimental Forest.

Postdoctoral Research, Oregon State University, 1999
This research was conducted with Dr. Bruce McCune. My research utilized phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequence data to examine a lichen species complex within the genus Trapeliopsis. This species complex contained fertile and asexual, soridiate, forms in the Western U.S.

Doctoral Research, Oregon State University, 1993-1999.
My Dissertation studies focused on the biology of the rare fern Botrychium pumicola. There were two main aspects to my research. One was the characterization of the mycorrhizal fungal community using molecular methods. This included all root associated fungi, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (species of Glomus), dark septate root endophytes, and various conidial producing ascomycetes (e.g., Trichoderma). The other aspect of my thesis was determining the significance of asexual reproduction using the highly variable DNA markers, inter-simple sequence repeats.

Mycologist, the fungi of Hendricks Park, 1998-1999.
I worked in collaboration with Jamie L. Platt to identify the fungi that occur in Hendricks Park, Eugene, Oregon. The contract focused on the diversity of macro fungi of this urban park, but we tried to include all fungi we observed (e.g., Stictis pachyspora, Steccherinum ochraceum, and Entomophthoraceae erynioid group)

Mycologist, root endophytes of the orchid Cypripedium fasiculatum, 1998-1999.
I examined the root endophytes of this rare and threatened plant. From several hundred isolates, I identified 45 different fungi. A few were Rhizoctonia-like, which are typical of orchid mycorrhizae. This work reports several genera that have not previously been reported from orchids (e.g., Scytalidium, Eladia, Ramichloridium, and Gliomasitx). This work was contracted to the Bureau of Land Management.

Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Jeffery Stone, 1998.
I was responsible for the isolation, culturing, and identification of endophytic fungi. The fungal cultures were sent to Eli Lilly and Co. to be screened for pharmaceutical properties.

Mycologist/Lichenologist, Lyman Glacier, 1996.
This collaboration with Dr. Ari Jumpponen, Dr. Efren Cazares, Dr. James M. Trappe and Jamie Platt is focused on examining the fungal and plant succession on a retreating glacier. I mainly focused on the lichens, bryophytes, and bryophilous fungi.

Mycologist, fungi of Guyana, 1996.
Collaborated with Joey Spatafora in a collecting expedition to Guyana, South America. The main focus of the trip was to collect insect pathogenic fungi related to the genus Cordyceps. I have identified several new records of fungi for Guyana (e.g., Gloeocantharellus sp., Lentinus ).

Mycologist, Cultivation of Cantharellus cibarius. 1995 - 1996.
Collaborated with Dr. Eric Danell in the cultivation of the golden chanterelle. This resulted in the first successful fruiting of this highly prized edible mushroom in greenhouse conditions.

Mycologist, truffle like fungi of New Zealand and Australia, 1995.
Participated in a collecting expedition with Dr. James Trappe, Dr. Michael Castellono, and Dr. Ross Beaver. This research is to catalog the truffle like fungi of Australasia.

Molecular systematist, Oregon State University, 1995.
Collaborated with Dr. David Gernandt and Dr. Jeffery Stone to work on the systematics of the genus Rhabdocline. This genus is found on conifer foliage, with some of the species being important forest pathogens.

Molecular systematist, Oregon State University, 1995 - 1996.
Collaborated with Dr. Eric Danell to examine the systematics of the genus Cantharellus in the Pacific Northwest. This work was the first to recognize that the Western U.S. Cantharellus cibarius is at least 4 distinct species.

Botanist, McDonald-Dunn Research Forest, Oregon State University, 1993-1998.
I collected fungi and recorded the presence of plants occurring on the research forest. This included working with rare and threatened plants and fungi and developing a lichen monitoring program for air pollution. An interactive web site was created to display the fungi and plants.

Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Lynda Ciuffetti, 1991-1993
This laboratory researched the host pathogen interaction of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. I performed molecular techniques such as DNA extraction, agarose gel electrophoresis, and Southern blotting. My work included maintaining fungal isolates and other general laboratory duties.

Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Nancy Smith-Weber, 1991-1993.
This research was to study the fungal order Pezizales of Western North America. I participated in the collecting, identifying, and data basing of these fungi.

Student Assistant, OSC Herbarium, 1991-1992.
I worked for Dr. William Dennison. The main responsibilities were the labeling and filing of herbarium specimens.

Lichenology and air pollution, Oregon State University, 1991.
I worked under the direction of Dr. William Dennison to re-sample lichen plots that were originally sampled in 1971. I identified the lichens and recorded their frequency and abundance.

Research Assistant, Hops breeding program, 1990-1991.
I worked under the supervision of Dr. Alfred Haunold. This research program was on the breeding of new varieties of hops. I preformed various activities at the hops farm and lab.

Teaching Experience:

Edible and Medicinal Mushroom, September 16-17, 2000, University of California, Berkeley.